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LET THE GAMES BEGIN — SENATE TO VOTE ON HOUSE-PASSED SPENDING BILL: Senators must first clear a 60-vote threshold to end debate on the legislation. Then, they’ll vote to strike a provision in the bill that defunds Obamacare before taking a roll call on final passage, both of which will require a simple majority.

The votes are set to begin at 12:30 p.m. today.

BRACE YOURSELVES — TROOPS, FAMILIES PREPARE FOR SHUTDOWN DISRUPTIONS, via POLITICO's Philip Ewing: "Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Bill Moran briefed sailors this week in Pensacola, Fla., on what to expect. Financial institutions that cater to defense customers are offering special arrangements in case paychecks are delayed. And the Pentagon’s comptroller, Bob Hale, is set to brief reporters on Friday about the department’s high-level preparations.

“But even though the Defense Department wants to be ready, it’s not happy. All the planning and preparation uses time and energy the department can’t use on its many other priorities, officials say." http://politico.pro/1fs5zSa

LESSONS LEARNED: This year, no matter what spending bill is passed this fall — a stopgap measure or an actual appropriations bill — the Pentagon will spend more cautiously, according to defense analysts. POLITICO's Kate Brannen has the story: http://politico.pro/186Jz8G

TOP TWEET, via MSNBC.com’s Suzy Khimm:@SuzyKhimm: One big way that Republicans are winning this fiscal fight: Virtually no one is talking about sequestration..

She makes a good point. Why isn’t anyone talking about sequestration? Send your best takes our way at jsummers@politico.com ,and we’ll publish analysis in a future edition of Morning Defense.

IT’S FINALLY FRIDAY. Even if you’ll be stuck in your office on Capitol Hill this weekend, thanks for starting your Friday with POLITICO’s Morning Defense. We’re always looking for the latest defense news, tips and feedback. Send them our way at jsummers@politico.com. Don’t forget to follow on Twitter @jmsummers, @morningdefense and @PoliticoPro for the latest news.

HAPPENING TODAY – JOINT CHIEFS TO MEET: The Joint Chiefs have an off-site meeting to discuss a range of issues as Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey heads into his second term.

It will be a more informal setting than the Tank and will cover the Quadrennial Defense Review, the budget — including sequestration — and other issues, said Dempsey’s spokesman, Air Force Col. Ed Thomas.

WEEKEND WATCH — SECDEF TO SOUTH KOREA: Defense Secretary ChuckHagel is heading to South Korea on Saturday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, participate in the 45th security consultative meeting, preside over a change of command ceremony for U.S. forces in South Korea and visit U.S. and South Korean troops, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little announced today. On his way back, Little said, Hagel will stop in Tokyo to join Secretary of State John Kerry for a meeting of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee and to meet with U.S. service members stationed in Japan. He’ll return to Washington on Oct. 4.

SUNDAY IS GOLD STAR MOTHERS AND FAMILIES DAY. "Most of us can only imagine the pain of a mother who loses a daughter, the husband who loses his partner or the son who loses a father. Prepared to serve others at any cost, their loved ones exemplified the values of courage and selflessness that define our armed forces and fortify our union," President Barack Obama said in a proclamation. "The families of the fallen embody that same character. Amid their sorrow, these homefront heroes support one another and lift up their communities. As our country seeks to understand the depth of their sacrifice, we draw strength and inspiration from their example.”

A LOOK AHEAD: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has planned a hearing next week on the Washington Navy Yard shooting, examining government clearances and background checks.

LAWMAKERS WANT WHITE HOUSE COMMITMENT ON NUKES, via POLITICO's Leigh Munsil: "Senate arms control hawks challenged President Barack Obama on Thursday to promise that he would not unilaterally reduce the size of the nuclear arsenal, despite his comments earlier this year. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including Sens. Robert Menendez, Bob Corker and Marco Rubio, pressed the White House as they also hurled questions at Department of State and White House nominees on everything from Iran to Syrian chemical weapons to Russian compliance with existing nuclear treaties." http://politico.pro/19K76dC

GENERAL ATOMICS: PREDATOR 'SAVED LIVES' IN WILDFIRE, via Ewing: "The announcement continued the drone industry’s steady sales pitch that its remotely piloted aircraft — known today mostly as the unseen assassins that circle high above Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and parts of Africa — deserve a greater role in American skies." http://politico.pro/19K7PeW

** At BAE Systems, we are turning vast amounts of data into actionable intelligence. With our proven activity-based intelligence technology and tradecraft, our experts are helping agencies predict and prevent illegal activities. No matter the challenge, we’ll be there — On the Next Front. Learn more: www.baesystems.com/nextfront.**

WHITE HOUSE OPEN TO MORE NSA DATA LIMITS, via POLITICO's Josh Gerstein: "Senior administration officials told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the White House might accept legislation that would rein in how broadly NSA analysts can mine the telephone data, tightening a current court-imposed limit of 'three hops' — three degrees of separation removed from the telephone number being searched. With each 'hop,' hundreds or even thousands of telephone numbers are rummaged through for patterns that may show contact between terrorists." http://politi.co/1867Xav

BE AN AGRICULTURE PRO: Pro Agriculture, the second of three new Pro policy areas launching this fall, will debut on Wednesday, Oct. 2, and will feature breaking news and inside analysis from our best-in-the-business reporters. To learn more about Pro Agriculture, email info@politicopro.com or call 703-341-4600.

GAO URGES CAUTION ON UCLASS: The Government Accountability Office is urging the Navy to take a more cautious approach in its efforts to field drones that can operate from aircraft carriers — a technology the service has billed as game-changing. In a report out today, the GAO says Congress should consider limiting funding for the program — called Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike, or UCLASS — unless the Navy moves up a review of it scheduled for 2020.

The GAO says the Navy should complete its Milestone B review — an analysis of the program’s expected capabilities versus its projected costs — following a design review scheduled for 2015. In the congressionally mandated report, the GAO notes the Navy plans to invest $3.7 billion in the program through 2020 despite major risk factors.

AIR FORCE CONFIDENT ON JAMES CONFIRMATION: The Air Force acknowledged Thursday that Sen. Kelly Ayotte has the right to hold up the nomination of Deborah Lee James to become its new secretary, but said it hoped Ayotte and James would be able to overcome the roadblock.

“The way we see it, we still look forward to Ms. James being confirmed, but we understand that decision is with the Senate, so we’re just going to let the process play out," Air Force spokeswoman Maj. Toni Whaley told POLITICO.

Ayotte, a New Hampshire Republican, has placed a hold on James' confirmation until the service is more forthcoming about the possible elimination of the Air Force's fleet of A-10 Warthog attack jets before a replacement aircraft is operational.

During James's confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month, Ayotte defended the future of the aircraft, arguing that it had saved the lives of 60 troops in Afghanistan. But Air Force commanders say today’s budget pressures mean they cannot afford to keep them in the arsenal.

AFTER KENYA ATTACK, CIA AND FBI SCRAMBLE TO THWART THE SHABAB, via the LA Times' Richard A. Serrano and Ken Dilanian: "The CIA is adding operatives and resources to focus on the Somalia-based militant group the Shabab as the FBI sends scores of agents to help examine evidence taken from the rubble of the shopping mall massacre in Nairobi, U.S. officials say.

The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation, while the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies are mining electronic data and quizzing informants in an effort to determine whether the Al Qaeda-linked group is planning new attacks, including any against U.S. facilities or interests." http://lat.ms/1ftIVbO

SPEED READ:

-- CEO Thomas Enders says EADS is still trying to win the Eurofighter contract in South Korea. Defense News: http://bit.ly/14MPrDG

-- The second insider attack by an Afghan National Security Force member in one week kills a NATO service member. Stars and Stripes: http://1.usa.gov/1eKRldA

-- The U.S. has removed nearly 20 percent of its forces from Afghanistan since April, totaling about 12,000 troops. Army Times: http://bit.ly/16MSXvq

-- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a second speech to the U.N., calls on Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/175CQwo

** At BAE Systems, we work relentlessly to stay ahead of any challenge our customers may face. Our pride and dedication show in everything we do, from innovative electronic systems to intelligence analysis and cyber operations, from combat vehicles and weapons to the maintenance and modernization of ships, aircraft and critical infrastructure. Knowing that our work makes a difference inspires us to push ourselves and our technology to new levels. So no matter the challenge, we’ll be there — On the Next Front. Learn more about our solutions and services at www.baesystems.com/nextfront. **